Kolkata: Life in the City of Joy remains paralysed even 24 hours after unprecedented rainfall left large parts of Kolkata waterlogged ahead of the Durga Puja festivities. At least 10 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents, including eight deaths due to electrocution. The situation remains grim as forecasts warn of more rain in the coming days.
Waterlogging grips city neighbourhoods
Several prominent areas such as Gariahat, Joka, Sarsuna, Thanthania, and Amherst Street continue to remain under water, even though no fresh spells of rain were reported overnight. Visuals showed vehicles submerged and people wading through waist-deep water in residential and commercial areas.
The downpour, which has been described as the heaviest in nearly four decades, forced closure of schools, shuttering of shops, and near absence of public transport on Monday. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) had deployed pumps in several areas, but the sheer volume of water brought the city to a standstill.
Power cuts and electrocution deaths
Electricity is yet to be restored in many localities after the power distribution company, CESC, cut supply as a precaution. However, exposed electric wires amid waterlogged streets have resulted in multiple deaths. Over half a dozen people were electrocuted in different parts of the city, triggering widespread anger against the discom.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held CESC responsible for the fatalities, alleging negligence in upgrading infrastructure. “The deaths could have been avoided if the company had taken proper precautions,” she said.
Weather forecast paints grim picture
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre, a low-pressure area over the northeast Bay of Bengal is likely to bring more showers to Kolkata and several districts of south Bengal. Cloudy skies, heavy winds, and thunderstorms are expected over the next 24 hours, further hampering recovery efforts.
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim described the event as a “cloudburst-like situation”, a phenomenon more commonly witnessed in hilly states such as Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. “South Kolkata is the worst affected. Many puja pandals are submerged, and the Hooghly River is overflowing, making matters worse,” he said.
Durga Puja celebrations hit hard
The timing of the deluge has added to the city’s woes as Durga Puja preparations were in full swing. Several pandals, already inaugurated over the weekend, have suffered extensive damage. Authorities have announced Durga Puja vacations in state schools two days earlier than planned, citing weather conditions.
With uncertainty looming over the week-long festival, organisers and devotees fear the celebrations may be dampened if rains continue.
Transport services paralysed
The waterlogging severely disrupted the city’s transport network. Train and metro services faced major interruptions, while dozens of flights were cancelled. Road traffic was crippled, leaving many commuters stranded for hours.
The collapse of transport added to the woes of daily wage earners and shopkeepers, many of whom were forced to shut businesses amid the heavy rains.
Political blame game erupts
The crisis has sparked a political war of words. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari accused the state government of ignoring early warnings issued weeks ago. “The disaster could have been avoided if the administration had acted on time,” he claimed.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee countered the criticism, blaming the lack of dredging in the Farakka barrage for flooding in the Ganga. “The Damodar Valley Corporation has not undertaken dredging. Some political parties are spreading misinformation over a natural calamity,” she said.
Conclusion
Kolkata, which witnessed its heaviest rainfall in nearly 39 years, now faces an uphill task of restoring normalcy as Durga Puja approaches. With forecasts predicting more rain, authorities remain on high alert, even as residents grapple with power cuts, transport breakdowns, and disrupted festivities. The city’s resilience will once again be tested as it struggles to emerge from one of its worst urban floods in decades.